BASF restarts Antwerp acrylic acid unit after catalyst work

LONDON (CNI)--BASF said Wednesday it hopes to bring its acrylic
acid plant in Antwerp, Belgium up to full operating rates next week
following a shutdown for a catalyst change.

“There are no problems with the downstream
products,” the German group said in a statement to CNI. “We will be
able to meet all existing delivery obligations.”

The 160 000 tonne/year plant was closed for an “extended
routine shutdown” in the middle of last week, said a BASF
spokeswoman. A major part of the plant is already onstream today,
she added, and the plant is running at a rate of 60-70%.